Wichita doctor is first female recipient of the Kansas Family Physician of the Year award

WICHITA, KANSAS –The Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (KAFP) has selected Deborah G. Haynes, MD, FAAFP as the 2012 Kansas Family Physician of the Year. Dr. Haynes is the first female recipient of this award since it has been given in 1990. She also served as KAFP’s first woman president in 1989.

She will be honored during the KAFP Annual Meeting at the President’s Dinner on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 7:30 pm at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kan.

Dr. Haynes has been practicing family medicine in Wichita for 30 years. She is employed by Via Christi Medical Associates. The group in which she practices has expanded over the years to include 4 other family physicians.

Delivering 1,000 babies over the first 20 years of her practice, she says: “I have been privileged to help patients through prenatal care and to see the joy of the parents as I deliver their first child. I delivered the eighth child for a family and will always remember the children all gathered around the hospital bed to welcome their new sibling.”

In a nomination letter, a patient writes, “Dr. Haynes has been my physician since she opened her practice in 1985. At that time I had 4 children at home from the ages of 14 to 7 and she was their physician as well. She has been by our side through all the mundane physicals as well as through broken bones, car accidents, sports injuries, and illness. I never feel like she is rushing me. She takes time to make me feel like I am her most important patient, and when there are treatment options she carefully explains each one before advising me. She respects me and my thoughts and concerns.”

EducationDr. Haynes completed her medical education at University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita, and completed her residency training at St. Joseph Medical Center Family Practice Residency. She has achieved the rank of clinical professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.

Dr. Haynes received her undergraduate degree from Wichita State University (WSU). She and her husband, Larry Beamer, MD, a general surgeon, are strong supporters of WSU, having contributed to WSU’s Faculty Development Fund as well as a scholarship designed to help students with unmet financial needs. Last year, they were awarded WSU’s Fairmount Founders Award for their many contributions. Dr. Haynes serves on the board of directors of the WSU Foundation and the WSU Foundation National Advisory Council.

“Larry and I have spent time thinking about our priorities and decided we want to focus on education and health.” Her opportunities for advancement came through being a WSU Gore Scholarship recipient herself, and she sees this as an opportunity to give back. “We like to provide scholarships to help students pursue their college education.”

She is an informal ambassador for Wichita. “I love this city and its people! People here are very nice, have a hard work ethic, and are honest. You can get anywhere in town in about 20 – 30 minutes. When I’ve met visitors from other places they say, ‘You can’t beat the people from the Midwest.’ In addition, I always feel my patients are extremely appreciative of the time and care they receive.”

ServiceDr. Haynes has been active in teaching residents and students since she graduated from medical school. She has served in many roles in the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, including KAFP President (1989-90); and Kansas Academy of Family Physicians Foundation President (1990-91). Dr. Haynes has served in numerous capacities with the American Academy of Family Physicians, including the AAFP Board of Directors (1997-2000). She has also been on the board of directors of the American Board of Family Medicine and served as a vice chair in 2005-06. Randy Peterson, CEO/President of Via Christi Hospitals wrote a recommendation letter on Dr. Haynes’ behalf, extending his gratitude for her service on the Via Christi Hospitals-Wichita Board of Directors for the past 9 years with her term ending in 2011. “She has been an excellent Board member and chaired the Quality Committee of the Board. She always advocated for the best patient outcome and often suggested an approach to care that was more patient centered. Dr. Haynes has also served in many leadership positions at Via Christi Medical Associates including chairing the VCMA Board of Directors. She has exhibited tremendous leadership skills in this capacity as this physician group dealt with such topics as physician compensation, patient quality metrics, service aspects of care and various approaches to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the practice.”

KAFP Executive Director Carolyn Gaughan summarizes her leadership capabilities: “Dr. Haynes is a leader who understands the importance of setting priorities. Watching and working with her on many issues, I have learned that her nature holds these traits: Unselfish generosity, excellence in clinical care built around the core principles of family medicine, persistence, clarity, teaching ability and focus.”

FamilyDr. Haynes and Dr. Beamer have 3 daughters: • Staci Beamer – a resident at the University of North Carolina in cardiothoracic surgery. She is in her 4th of 7 years of residency. • Lindsay Beamer, a University of North Carolina graduate with her masters in accounting, she works for Ernst Young. • Stephanie Beamer graduated with a degree in architecture from Washington University, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. She recently started a new furniture design company, Egg Collective, with two of her fellow architecture graduates.

“I cannot imagine doing anything other than what I am doing today as a family physician. It is a privilege to enter the lives of my patients and to walk this common journey. I am blessed to be a family physician.” says Dr. Haynes.###

For a complete list of past recipients and more information about the selection process, go to http://www.kafponline.org/Members/Awards/FamilyPhysicianoftheYear/

About the KAFPThe Kansas Academy of Family Physicians is the largest medical specialty society in the state, with a total of 1,570 members. The mission of the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians is to promote access to, and excellence in, health care for all Kansans through education and advocacy for family physicians and their patients. The KAFP is affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the national association for family physicians.

For more information about the KAFP visit the KAFP Web site at www.kafponline.org.